Shrub rose plant named ‘BAIcream’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Landscape Shrub rose plant is provided which abundantly forms on a recurrent basis creamy white double blossoms with a hint of pink that commonly have a diameter of approximately 10 cm. The buds are slender in configuration and lemon yellow in coloration. The plant exhibits a vigorous, upright and bushy growth habit, and forms attractive foliage that commonly possesses a tint of red-purple when young and assumes a semi-glossy medium green coloration when mature. Very good resistance to Blackspot and Powdery Mildew is displayed. The foliage coloration contrasts nicely with the creamy white blossom coloration. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Landscape Shrub RosePlant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘BAIcream’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Landscape Shrub rose plant was createdat Yamhill, Oreg., U.S.A., during 1992 by artificial pollination whereintwo parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hopethat they would contribute the desired characteristics. The femaleparent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘AUSmas’ variety (non-patented inthe United States). The ‘AUSmas’ variety is marketed under the GrahamThomas trademark. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the‘BUCbi’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,225). The ‘BUCbi’ variety ismarketed under the Carefree Beauty trademark. The parentage of the newvariety can be summarized as follows:‘AUSmas’×‘BUCbi’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and plants wereobtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantof the new variety having the distinctive ornamental characteristicshereafter described.

It was found that the new variety of the present invention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a vigorous, upright and bushy growth habit,    -   (b) forms slender lemon yellow buds,    -   (c) abundantly forms on a recurrent basis attractive creamy        white double blossoms with a hint of pink commonly having a        diameter of approximately 10 cm,    -   (c) forms attractive foliage that commonly possesses a tint of        red-purple when young and assumes a semi-glossy medium green        coloration when mature,    -   (d) displays very good resistance to Blackspot and Powdery        Mildew, and    -   (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive        ornamentation in parks and gardens.

Strong canes are formed by the new variety.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its parental varieties. More specifically, the ‘AUSmas’ varietyforms rich deep yellow blossoms having approximately 35 petals, and the‘BUCbi’ variety forms light rose blossoms having approximately 15 to 20petals.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in the landscape where attractiveornamentation is desired. The plant can be grown as a specimen or as amass planting.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by buddingon an understock and by the rooting of cuttings. Asexual propagation bybudding onto ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock (non-patented in the United States)first conducted during April 1993 at Yamhill, Oreg., U.S.A., andsubsequently by the rooting of cuttings at Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.A., andelsewhere, has shown that the characteristics of the new variety arestable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation fromone generation to another.

Initially the new plant was designated 99R508. The new varietysubsequently has been named the ‘BAIcream’ variety, and is beingmarketed while using the Macy's Pride trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The rose plants of the new varietyhad been propagated by the rooting of cuttings, were approximately twoyears of age, and were being grown outdoors during the seasons of 1999and 2000 at St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 illustrates typical buds, creamy white blossoms and foliage ofthe new variety during the summer. The attractive dense semi-glossymedium green foliage is shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of creamy white blossoms when fullyopen and buds of the new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Common color terms are tobe accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description isbased on the observation of two and three year-old plants while growingon their own roots outdoors during June and July 2001 at St. Paul,Minn., U.S.A., and one year-old plants growing outdoors on their ownroots during October 2001 at Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.A.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida, var. ‘BAIcream’.-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 1.5 m on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 m on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Habit.—Upright and bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: new Yellow-Green Group 144B with some            highlights of Red Group 53B. Adult wood: Yellow-Green Group            144A.        -   Thorns.—Size: Commonly approximately 0.5 to 0.75 cm in            length on average. Color: commonly between Greyed-Purple            Group 184B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Generally parallel with the auricle facing            outward.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146A. Under            surface: Yellow-Green Group 146C.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often) on mature            branches. Shape: ovate with a rounded base and an acuminate            tip. Serration: finely serrate. Texture: leathery. General            appearance: dense, semi-glossy aspect, and medium green in            coloration. Color (young foliage): Upper surface:            Yellow-Green Group 146B with highlights of Red-Purple Group            59B. Under surface: Yellow-Green Group 147A with highlights            of Red-Purple Group 59A Color (Adult foliage): Upper            surface: commonly between Green Group 137A and Yellow-Green            Group 147B. Under surface: Green Group 138B with some            presence of Green Group 139C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly in clusters of three per stem.        -   Peduncle.—With some prickles, medium green, commonly Green            Group 143C in coloration, and the length is approximately 6            cm on average.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: between Green Group 143A and 143B in            coloration. Under surface: Green Group 143D with areas of            White Group 155D, and some pubescence. Size: approximately 3            cm in length with some extensions.        -   Buds.—Shape: Slender. Size: medium. Length: approximately            3.5 cm on average. Diameter: approximately 1.75 cm on            average. Color: Upper surface: commonly between Yellow-Green            Group 150D and Yellow-Green Group 154D with highlights of            Red-Purple Group 58B. Under surface: commonly between            Green-Yellow Group 1C and Yellow-Green Group 154C.        -   Flower.—Shape: double. Diameter: approximately 10 cm on            average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface:            Yellow-Green Group 154C and 154D. Under surface:            Green-Yellow Group 1D with highlights of Green-Yellow Group            1B. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: between Yellow            Group 2D and Yellow Group 4D with highlights of Red-Purple            Group 62C. Under surface: Green-Yellow Group 1D with            highlights of Yellow Group 4C and Red-Purple Group 63D.            Color (end of blooming): Upper surface: White Group 155B            with highlights of Yellow Group 4D. Under surface: White            Group 155A with highlights of Yellow Group 2D. Basal petal            spot: White Group 155D. Fragrance: slight musk. Lasting            quality: the blossoms commonly last approximately 3 to 5            days from bud on the plant on average depending upon the            temperature, and the level of sunlight. Petal number:            approximately 22 on average under normal growing conditions.            Petal shape: wedge-shaped commonly with a curled apex when            fully open. Petal drop: the petals drop easily. Stamen            number: approximately 75 on average. Anthers: Greyed-Orange            Group 163B in coloration. Filaments: Yellow Group 6A in            coloration. Pistils: approximately 26 on average. Stigmas:            Yellow Group 13B in coloration. Styles: Yellow-Green Group            154A in coloration. Receptacle: separate and free. Hips:            ovoid in configuration. Seeds: Greyed-Orange Group 164B with            highlights of Greyed-Orange Group 166C in coloration, rugose            at the apex with villose hairs, and oval to round in shape.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous.        -   Blooming.—Abundant at first bloom and then recurrent            throughout the growing season.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Very good resistance to Blackspot,            and Powdery Mildew.        -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—Good.        -   Hardiness zone.—Zone Nos. 4 to 7.

1. A new and distinct variety of Landscape Shrub rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a)exhibits a vigorous, upright and bushy growth habit, (b) abundantlyforms on a recurrent basis attractive creamy-white double blossoms witha hint of pink commonly having a diameter of approximately 10 cm, (c)forms attractive foliage that commonly possesses a tint of red-purplewhen young and assumes a semi-glossy medium green coloration whenmature, (d) displays very good resistance to Blackspot and PowderyMildew, and (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractiveornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as herein shown anddescribed.